Language and Desktop Publishing Assistant, Chinese

Org. Setting and ReportingThe mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region. This position is located in the Chinese Language Unit, in the Conference and Documentation Services Section. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Chinese Language Unit. ResponsibilitiesUnder the direct supervision of the Chief of Chinese Language Unit, and overall supervision of the Chief of Conference and Documentation Services Section, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions: • Performs desktop publishing, page layout and/or graphic design functions, including incorporating corrections and formatting documents, as well as creating tables, graphics and organization charts, in desktop publishing formats, in accordance with existing guidelines, especially for complex documents, including publications. • Performs proofreading functions by checking successive versions of edited and translated documents against previous versions, as appropriate, in accordance with existing guidelines. • Assists the Programming Officer or equivalent in the distribution of work, including by monitoring the progress of work, and assists in ensuring the smooth electronic transmission and effective processing of documentation. • Compiles and scopes final documents against the submitted document. • Aligns bi-texts in order to support the production of high-quality translation memories and related workflow improvements. • Assists the team leader or the Chief in leading the adoption of modified working methods and procedures in the framework of ongoing modernization processes, including by acting as liaison between the staff and the management team. • Performs ad hoc modified desktop publishing functions developed through workflow reviews. • Trains staff to perform all desktop publishing, page layout and/or graphic design functions. • Collects and verifies data and assists the management team with the preparation of data presentations and reports for information-sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision-making. • Registers incoming/outgoing documents and processes and records all assignments in gDoc on a daily basis, when needed. • Stores final text on the relevant systems by the mandated deadline. • Conducts final verification for machine-readable documents. • Performs independently and effectively the full range of office management and administrative support functions, when required. • Handles queries, maintains attendance and keeps records, as needed. • In coordination with the team leader, creates, updates and maintains templates and models. Tests macros and reports all issues. • Provides any assistance that may be requested by the team leader or the Chief. • Provides technical support to all staff in the work unit. • At the request of the team leader, performs quality evaluations and provides feedback to contribute to the creation of a culture of accountability and two-way feedback. • Performs pre-translation functions, as needed. • Works effectively in in-person, remote or hybrid teams, as needed. • Undertakes cross-assignments to perform, under guidance, other language functions, if required. • Stays available for assignments and shifts, depending on the exigencies of service, including outside normal working hours. • Completes ePerformance evaluations as Reporting Officer, when required. • Assists hiring managers to ensure sufficient capacity to meet the requirements of the team, if needed. • Provides desktop publishing and proofreading services to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, its subsidiary bodies and other bodies, as required. • Assists and stands in for colleagues, when needed. • Performs other related work as required. CompetenciesCore Competencies: Professionalism: Knowledge of United Nations structure and rules of procedure of various organs. Knowledge of all aspects of the work of the Unit, including typographic standards, with special emphasis on technological applications leading to processing efficiencies. Proficiency in United Nations terminology and editorial practices in the language of the unit. Ability to enhance the skills and monitor the performance of staff within the Unit, with emphasis on change management in the area of technological innovation. Demonstrates initiative, ability and creativity to effectively attain objectives. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Managerial Competencies: Managing Performance. Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of two years of required experience Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years (or five years if graduated with a first-level university degree) of progressively responsible experience in desktop publishing or a related field, including draft typing, copy editing, formatting, proofreading, graphic design, and creating typographical layouts, or in a language-related field, is required. Experience in general office and administrative support is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, candidates must have Chinese as their main language. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. AssessmentQualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods. Special NoticeThis position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Applicants for GS and related positions may apply and be considered for locally recruited positions no matter where they are currently located (including the current serving staff members at other duty stations), provided they are locally available upon appointment. They must be authorized to work in the country regardless of where they live at the time of applying for the job opening. This job opening is also open to candidates not authorized to work at the duty station at the time of application. The appointment is contingent upon obtaining the work authorization at the duty station. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.